Collector valve



D. F. HOWETH COLLECTOR VALVE Filed Feb. 15. 1967 June 3, 1969 FIG. I.

FIG. 2.

PUMP 24 no.2.

RESERVOIR LOAD uo. s.

LORD "0- Z.

0 I D A 0 L FIG. 5.

DA V/D FRANKLIN HOWE TH INVENTOR. BY m ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 137-112 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collector valve comprised of a hollow cylindrical body having opposing valve seats in the ends thereof, a port in the body intermediate said seats, and a ball valve element within said body, the diameter of the ball valve element being large enough to seat in said valve seats, yet small enough to permit the passage of fluid therearound when not seated. The invention is also directed to an arrangement wherein a collector valve or a multiple of collector valves are interposed in two or more hydraulic systems wherein the pumps thereof are driven by a single internal combustion engine, which arrangement controls the speed of the engine in accordance with load demand.

This invention relates to collector valves and has reference to an arrangement whereby the throttle of a single internal combustion engine driving multiple pumps for separate hydraulic systems is automatically controlled. In order to reduce engine and pump wear, and to conserve fuel, it is important that the engine should turn no faster than necessary. Heretofore this was no particular problem when an engine drove a single pump. A throttle control in the form of a cylinder and piston was connected with the pressure side of the hydraulic system and the control was connected with the throttle of the engine. Thus, when a working load was applied to the hydraulic system, causing increased pressure in the pressure line, the control was actuated and caused the speed of the engine to increase. However, where there were multiple pumps driven by the engine, the throttle had to be set in one high speed position, or multiple hydraulic throttle controls were employed, one for each hydraulic system.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective valve for collecting fluid from the pressure sides of two or more pumps, driven by a single engine, in such a manner that increased work load demand on any one or more pumps will automatically advance the engine throttle.

Another object is to provide a collector valve of simple construction including a ball valve element and port arrangement which will not obstruct flow of fluid to and from the throttle control.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a collector valve, or multiple of collector valves, which prevents fluid from passing from a working system to a non-working system.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a collector valve according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan and broken sectional view of the valve illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the valve illustrated in FIGURES l and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a throttle control.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of multiple hydraulic systems driven by a single engine and showing collector valves according to the invention connected therewith, and

3,447,556 Patented June 3, 1969 FIGURE 6 is a schematic view showing two of the present valves connected with each other.

The form of the invention shown includes a tubular body 10 having a threaded outlet 11 intermediate its ends. Opposing valve seats 12 are received in threads 13 in the ends of the body 10, and a ball valve element 14 is received in the body diameter between the seats. The diameter of the valve element 14 is less than the inside diameter of the body 10, but larger than the inside diameter of the outlet 11; thus, the element cannot seat in the outlet, yet fluid can pass around the ball element when flowing through the body.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, there is an internal combustion engine 15 which drive three pumps, Nos. 1, 2 and 3, by means of a single drive shaft 16. Couplings 17 are provided in the shaft 16 between the pumps. While three pumps are shown, it is to be understood that two or more pumps, within the capability of the engine 15, may be employed for supplying pressure to a corresponding number of hydraulic systems.

Each pump has a pressure line 18 connected with an open center reversing valve 19, and each reversing valve has operating lines 20 and 21 connected with opposite ends of cylinders designated as loads Nos. 1, 2 and 3. A single reservoir 22 supplies fluid to all three pumps by way of a main supply line 23 and branch lines 24. Similarly, there is a main fluid return line 25 connected with the reversing valves 19 by way of branch lines 26.

The engine 15 includes a carburetor 27 which is operated by a throttle lever 28 and in the present invention the throttle lever is actuated by a throttle control 29. As shown in detail in FIGURE 4, the throttle control 29 is comprised of a closed cylinder 30, a piston 31 therein, an extending piston rod 32, a clevis 33 on the extending end of the piston rod, and a coiled compression spring 34 around the piston rod within the cylinder. A link 35 connects the clevis 33 with the throttle lever 28.

One end of an actuating line 36 is connected with that end of the throttle control cylinder 30 opposite the piston rod 32, and the remaining end of the actuating line is connected with the outlet 11 of a collecter valve as described in the foregoing. One end of the collector valve body 10 is connected by a line 37 with the pressure line 18 of the first hydraulic system, and the remaining end of the valve body is connected by a line 38 with the outlet 11 of a second collector valve. The ends of the body 10 of the second collector valve are connected with the pressure lines 18 of the other two hydraulic systems by lines 39 and 40.

Thus, when there is a demand on any of the loads Nos. 1, 2 or 3, or any combination thereof by operating one or more of the reversing valves 19, the increase in pressure in the corresponding pressure line or lines is transmitted to the actuating line 36 and causes the throttle control 29 to advance the throttle lever 28. If there is zero pressure in any line 37, 38 or 39, 40, then the ball valve element seats accordingly. For example, as schematically shown in FIGURE 6, there is pressure, indicated by the letter P, from the second and third hydraulic systems. This pressure is transmitted by lines 39, 40, through the body 10 of the second collector valve, through connecting line 38 to the body 10 of the first collector valve, and to the throttle control 29 by way of the actuating line 36. Because the pressure in the line 37 from the first hydraulic system is zero, indicated by the numeral 0, the ball element 14 seats in that end of the body 10. The unseated ball element 14 of the second collector valve does not necessarily assume the central position shown, and because of the different diameters of the ball element, the inside diameter of the body 10 and the inside diameter of the outlet 11, the ball element cannot seat in the latter.

3 When all reversing valves 19 are in their central posi tions there is no pressure in the actuating line 36. Thus, the spring 34 and piston 31 in the throttle control 29 return that volume of fluid received in the cylinder 30 to the non-working systems.

What is claimed is:

1. In an arrangement of at least two hydraulic systems wherein the pumps thereof are driven by a single internal combustion engine having a throttle, and wherein each said hydraulic system has a pressure line for operating a working load; a collector valve comprised of a tubular body, an outlet intermediate its ends, valve means in the ends of said body, lines connecting the ends of said body with said pressure lines, a throttle control connected with said throttle and an actuating line connecting said outlet with said throttle control, and wherein said valve means in the ends of said body are comprised of opposing valve seats therein and a ball valve element in said body between said valve seats, the diameter of said .ball valve element 4 being less than the inside diameter of said body and larger than the inside diameter of said outlet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,675,231 6/1928 Stoke 137-112 XR 2,057,286 10/1936 Ash 137-112 XR 2,627,388 2/1953 Johnson et al. 137-112 XR 2,821,972 2/1958 Banker 137-112 XR 3,043,328 7/1962 Taylor 137-112 3,064,684 11/ 1962 Hutton 137-625.4 3,214,901 11/ 1965 Iverson 60-19 3,278,239 10/1966 Klaus et a1 137112 XR GEORGE F. MAUTZ, Primary Examiner.

WERNER H. SCHROEDER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

